Box handle and latch



Mardi 14, 1944. W, TROGMAN l 2,344,009

BOX HANDLE AND LATCH Filed June 6, 1942 fa Zim?! Will To/9mm 1N ENTOR.

Patented Mar. 14, y1944 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 2,344,009 l BOXHANDLE AND LATCH William Trogman, Chicago, Ill. YApplication June 6,1942, Serial No. 446,066

6 Claims, 4(Cl. 229552) This inventionrelates to boxes and moreparticularly to a box handle and latch of an improved constructionhaving as its principal object the provision of a unitary handle andlatch which will be simple in structure, economical in manufacture andhighly efcient in use.

Anotherv object of this invention is the provision in one-piece foldingboxes of a handle for holding overlapping portions of the box inregister with each other and a novel latch for holding the handle ingripping position and simultaneously latching the overlapping portionsof the box in registry with each other.

A further object of my invention is the provisionoff a handle and latchwhich will coact lwiththe portion of a box to be associated therewith asto rigidify that portion of the box in the co-urse of the function as ahandle and latch therefor.

Other advantages and novel aspects of the invention reside in certaindetails of `construction which will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds in the light of the drawing, in which:

. Fig, 1 is a side elevational view of the handle andlatch comprising`my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a one-piece fold- .ing box showing thehandle and latch compris- Alatch in the course of being disposed inlocking position with respect to the box; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail ,taken along line 6-6 inFig. 4 and showing the handle in readiness for gripping. As shown in thedrawing, my invention is adapted'for use in one-piece folding boxesgenerally indicated at ID and comprising a receptacle portion II havinga cover I2 therefor integrally formed therewith and adapted to swinginto closed relation with respect tc the receptacle il. Each of theportions II and I2 are provided with end walls II' and I2 respectivelyand with top walls I3 and I4 respectively, which walls, when the box Illis closed, are disposed in overlapping relation with respect to eachother. In

the form of box shown, the receptacle and cover have a common bottomwall I5 which may be two overlapping Walls joined by staples or the likein a manner well known in the art, the main object being that the coverI2 be hinge'dly connected to thebox so as to swing with respect thereto.

Heretofore in thefboxmakin'g art, 'it has been the custom to apply ahandle means to the box for the purpose of carrying the latter. It hasalso been the custom to provide separate latch The present inventioncontemplates the lpro-v vision of an improved combined handle and latchrequiring less material and providing a more unitary construction whichywill -lend rigidity to the box assembly as Well as provide a moresimple box carrying and locking means.

In carrying out my improvement I provide 'a unitary handle and latchmeans generally indicated as member I6. The handle and latch is formedfrom a single piece of bendable or pliable material, preferably a lightgauge metal. In structure it comprises a main rib I'I having Aa loopedmid section I8 lto provide opstanding arms I9 with a central or handleportion 20 extending therebetween. The rib I'I extends substantially thelength of the box with which itis to be associated and is provided, asubstantial distan-ce inward of its ends, with upwardly extending lugs 2I formed integrally with the rib I1.

The box IIJ is made to conform to the purposes and intent of my newhandle constrnction. This is done by providing in the central area ofthe top wall I3 of the receptacle Ii an Velongated s lot 22 throughwhich may be extended the handle portion 22 of the member I6. Alsoformed in the top wall I3 are a pair of latching slots 23 and theseslots are in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis .of the.elongated s191512 .end are spaced therefrom a distance commensuratewith .the distance between the hridlinfthe lugs 2I of the `member I6 sothat the lugs`2.I will t into and through the Slotsi- The wp w21-11.I.4. 01f the ,Cov r porti@ L2 of i12@ box is likewise fonmed to beadaptedY to the new handle and latch member t6, Tor-thisgend .the

I3. f l -Y It will be noted that my improved construction,

a central tongue 24 flanked by two recesses 25 extending from the freeedge I4' of the wall I4 (left edge as seen indrawing) a distancesufficient to expose the slot 22 when the wall I4 is in overlappingrelation with respect to the wall I3. A pair of latching slots 25 areformed in the wall I4 in axial alignment with the base of the recesses25 and are spaced therefrom so as to register with the latching slots 23when the wall I4 is in overlapping relation` with respect to the walll3(seeFigsjand 5),

When it is desired to associatethe combined handle and latch with thebox, the handle por-4 the underside of the wall I3 (Fig. 2) Thisdone, aiiap 21 which` is integrallyformed on .the handle the fibre structure inthe most vital part of the 'box (around the handle) Having thusdescribed my invention and its relation to the specic type of box shownI do not desire to be restricted to the precise details recited butdesire to avail myself of all variations and modifications of theinvention coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A combined handle andlatch for folding box structures having a pairof overlapping top walls, said handle and latch comprising incombination elongated slots formed in each of the top walls of said boxand a pair of latching slots Iaxially valigned with said elongated sloton the l top walls and in spaced relation therefrom, each is bent outVof normal alignment'withtheup-" standing arms I9,` the flap 21 beingsuitablyscored; as `at 28 to facilitate such bending in the desiredplace. The handle 20 may then be released and ltwillbelprevented,fromgdropping through the slot v2 2 `byreasonof the lateral projectionof the flap .21'. Inrthis condition the handle and latch member I'6 willbesuspended from the top wall I3 with the, lugs 2| beneath saidwall. Thecovel` I2 is then swung into closing relation with'V respect to thereceptacle portion II of the box (Fig. 3,), the

tongue 24, being slid beneaththe flap 2'I while the.recessesgzembracethe upstanding arms I9 of the handle;

finit-nis .condition the next step drawing the, latter upwardfso thatthe lugs 2| adjacent :theends ofthe vrib I1 will extend through thejaligned 01g registering latching slots 23-26 Eachwof the lugs 2l,'inorder to provide ray locking prong, is split down its vertical arisesAat 29 Vf'orrl 'sheep to the .base of the lug,

thus providing a pair of prongs 3U and 3I. The

lugs t2|.have their base connectionwith the rib Il scored so 4astofacilitatebendinglof the prongs 33T-f3 I; and each offthe latter arebent as seen in Figsivl and 5, in opposite'. directions ywith respect toeach other. j

By this arrangement of'two-way 'locking prongs at each end of themember,I 6, the handle proper is held -in normalI hand-receiving condition Yatall times and simultaneously Athe covered 2 Vand.- re- 'ceptaclek II`are locked with respect to each other in a single unitary operation.Theflap 2I is nished'by bending it back upon the handleportion wherebyto `rigidify. the handle portion ,20 and render the latter V-lesssusceptible to bending or buckling under fa load. This arrangementmaintains rigidity in the entirehandle and latch inember I6 and assuresthe axial alignment of the rib I'I` at ,all times so las'to hold thelatter in uniform relationA with the bottom of the top wall bearing inaddition to providing a-combined handle` and latch, also reinforces thejoined top walls AI3 'and I4 of the box by reason of ythe ridge poleeffect of the rib I'I tending to distribute the load concentrated at thehandle 20 uniformly along the entire top wall of the box. This rendersthe box more durable and prevents unsightly bulges along the ,top wallwhich otherwise, after-constant flexing by reason of the stride of theperson carrying 'the box,r 'would weaken and finally break down of saidslots being disposed to register with each other 4when the top walls arein overlapping relation, a member including a main rib having a loopedmidsection providing a handle portion, a

-pair of two-way latching prongs formed on the upper edge of said ribadjacent Vits end, said handle portion extending through said elongatedslots and said latching prongs extending through ltheir respectivelatching slots with said rib bearing against thev underside of saidoverlapping walls, and means facilitating the bending of said latchingprongs in opposite directions over the latching slots whereby tosimultaneously hold the 'handle insaid elongated slots and to lock saidoverlapping top walls with respect to each other. 2. In` a device of theclass described for use in 'axial alignment therewith with the latchingslots in one of said top walls adapted to register with lthecorresponding latching slots in the other one of said walls, and handleand latch means for said box and comprising an elongated rib subrstantially equal to vthe length of said top walls and bearing upwardlyagainst the undersideof the latter, an inverted U shaped mids'ection onsaid rib. and extending through said elongated slot to provide a handle,a pair of split prongs formed integrally along the upper edge of said`rib a predetermined distance from said U shaped :midsection andextending through said latching slots and adapted to be bent overuponsaid overlapping top walls-to maintain the said handle and latchmeans'in the position aforesaid and to lock said overlapping top-wallswith respect toeach other. .Y

' `3. In aI foldingY box comprising a'receptacle andra cover'thereforjoinedalong their bottom ywall forV swinging movement relative to each`slot formed adjacent its ends with said slots all in axial?alignmentwith respect to each other and the c'orrespondingslots` oftherespective flanges adapted toregister with each other, means providing ahandle and latch for said folding box aridcomprising,'in combination, aridge pole formed `ofsheet material and'providing an up-1wardly'extendinginverted U section and a pair vof upwardly extendinglug formations adjacent =its ends and in verticalfalignment with saidlatchthereagainst, said inverted U portion extending Y through saidelongated slots to provide a central hand hold and said lug formationsextending through said latching slots to provide a means forsimultaneously locking said box and for maintaining said ridge pole inthe aforementioned relation to said top flanges.

4. In a folding box comprising a receptacle and a cover therefor joinedalong their bottom wall for swinging movement relative to each other andeach having side and top anges adapted to be disposed in overlappingrelation when the receptacle and cover are in closed condition and eachof said top flanges having a slot formation in its midsection and alatching slot formed adjacent its ends with said slots al1 in axialalignment with respect to each other and the corresponding slots of therespective flanges adapted to register With each other, means providinga handle and latch for said folding box and comprising in combination aridge pole formed of sheet material and providing an upwardly extendinginverted U portion at its midsection and a pair of upwardly extendinglug formations adjacent its end and in vertical alignment With saidlatching slots, said ridge pole being disposed beneath said overlappingtop anges and bearing irmly thereagainst, said inverted U portionextending through said elongated slots to provide a central hand holdand said lug formations extending through said latching slots to providea means for simultaneously locking said box and for maintaining saidridge pole in the aforementioned relation to said top flanges, said lastnamed means comprising a vertical slit in said lug formation providingtwoway locking prongs and scoring along the base of said lugs whereby tofacilitate a disposal of said two-way locking prongs to alternatelyoverlie said top anges of said box.

5. In a combined handle and latch for folding box structures andcomprising a load bearing rib adapted to be disposed within the box, anupwardly extending offset central portion on said rib and adapted toextend through a central opening in said box and latching means formedadjacent the ends of said rib, said latching means each comprising anupwardly extending split lug adapted to extend through aligned openingsin said box and having crease lines along their base to facilitateright-angular bends of said split lugs for holding said central portionin extended condition relative to said central opening.

6. In a combined handle and latch for folding box structures andcomprising a load bearing rib adapted to be disposed Within the box, anup Wardly extending offset central portion on said rib and adapted toextend through an opening formed in a wall of said box and latchingmeans formed adjacent the ends of said rib, said latching means eachcomprising an upwardly extending split lug adapted to extend throughaligned openings in said box and having crease lines along their base tofacilitate right-angular bends of said split lugs for securing said loadbearing rib against the underside of said Wall of vsaid box, and a flapformation on said offset central portion and adapted to` be bent backupon the latter to rigidify the same and provide a smoothfinger-receiving portion for said handle.

WILLIAM TROGMAN.

